SHERIDAN — The U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the State of Wyoming launched a brand new pilot program to attach Veterans in rural areas with telehealth and psychological well being assets.
The Wyoming Division of Transportation (WYDOT) and Wyoming State Parks posted flyers at relaxation areas throughout Wyoming to assist join Veterans to VA assets whereas they’re touring. The flyers share details about Veterans’ telehealth choices, the closest VA location, and the Veterans Crisis Line — empowering Veterans to entry care primarily based on their emergent, pressing, or routine well being care wants.
VA collaborated with the State of Wyoming as an early adopter due to its standing because the least populous state, per the 2020 U.S. Census. Because the nation’s tenth largest state, Wyoming maintains greater than 6,900 miles of highways, to incorporate the Interstate Freeway System and State Freeway System. VA labored intently with WYDOT to supply the data at 33 relaxation areas throughout the state.
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“WYDOT is glad to participate in any initiative that helps assist and handle our Veterans,” mentioned Luke Reiner, WYDOT Director. “Whereas Wyoming is the least populated state, we see a excessive quantity of each vacationer and industrial site visitors on our highways. A lot of these drivers may gain advantage from these companies and this can be a wonderful means to make sure they know what choices can be found.”
A big a part of this collaboration can be the concentrate on entry to psychological well being care whereas Veterans are touring. Wyoming State Parks helps the standard of life for all Wyomingites, so the endeavor is a becoming alternative.
“Wyoming State Parks is actively working with the Division of Veterans Affairs in an effort to advertise the psychological well being advantages of spending time outside,” mentioned Deputy Director Nick Neylon, “and we stay up for creating different alternatives for Veterans across the state.”
This effort can be a mirrored image of the significance VA locations on collaborating with group and governmental organizations the place Veterans obtain care. The Sheridan VA Well being Care System gives that care to Wyoming Veterans in three quarters of the state, whereas the Cheyenne VA Well being Care System gives care within the southeastern portion of the state.
“Serving the Veterans who served our nation is an all fingers effort,” mentioned Sheridan VA Well being Care System Pam Crowell. “The Cheyenne VA Director Paul Roberts and I respect this collaboration with the State of Wyoming to make sure all Veterans are conscious of care choices, even when touring via our nice state.”
Rural well being care is usually restricted due to varied challenges with funding, care necessities, and expansive geography. This marketing campaign will assist join Veterans with VA assets and keep their continuity of care inside the VA well being care system primarily based upon the “Anywhere-to-Anywhere” Telehealth Practice Authority utilizing VA Video Connect.
After rolling out the undertaking in Wyoming, VA plans to proceed the initiative in different rural states.
